Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.
The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton
Fiction
1989 Anchor Books (first published in 1988)
Finished in June 1997
Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)
Publisher's Blurb:
Winner of the 1989 PEN/Hemingway Foundation Award for best first novel, this exquisite book confronts real-life issues of alienation and violence from which the author creates a stunning testament to the human capacity for mercy, compassion and love.
My Original Notes (1997):
Very, very good! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, so much so that I bought her second book, A Map of the World.
The novel wasn't very uplifting and kind of depressing at times. However, it was so well written, I could't put it down.
Disturbing and beautiful.
My Current Thoughts:
I have no recollection of this book, which is a shame since it's one I apparently enjoyed.
Wasn't this an Oprah book? Seem to remember that. I don't think I ever read it. I might have read MAP OF THE WORLD, but again, don't remember. I will say that this was about in the time period that we met or maybe a few months later, right?
ReplyDeleteKay, you're right. It was an Oprah book. And, yes. This is pretty much right around the time we met in the reading forum online. It was definitely in 1997 and I was reading a bunch of the Oprah books. The gathering in Cleveland was in 1998.
DeleteI know I read this one with a book group but like you, I don't remember a thing about it. I may have to dig out my book journal I used to keep back then and see if I wrote anything about it.
ReplyDeleteIliana, I'm really enjoying my "Looking Back" project and going back through all my reading journals. I wish I had written more details in these early entries, though.
DeleteI remember being on an Oprah pick kick, too but I can't remember if I read this one or not. I def read A Map of the World but I remember nothing about that one, either, maybe because it was depressing, too?
ReplyDeleteLisa, I read A Map of the World, too. I think it had to do with a woman taking care of her friend's children and one drown. I'm not sure, though. I have a feeling I read it after this one, so it will turn up in my journal in the coming weeks.
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